China has blocked India’s request to add the head of the Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) to a UN Security Council blacklist of groups linked to al Qaeda, India said on Friday.
NEW DELHI: China has once again blocked India’s proposal at the United Nations to list Masood Azhar as a designated terrorist.
India expressed concern at China’s stand and said it expected Beijing to be more understanding.
“Decision by China to block proposal to list Masood Azhar as terrorist is surprising as China herself is affected by scourge of terrorism,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.
“Chinese action confirms prevalence of double standards in the fight against terrorism,” he said.
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Vikas Swarup said India will continue to push forward with determination through options available with us to bring perpetrators of violence to justice.
Last week, China’s foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang had said, “As for India’s application for Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and listing issue pursuant to resolution of 1267 (to list Masood as terrorist), China’s position remains unchanged.”
China had in October extended its “technical hold” on India’s move to get Azhar banned by the UN.
Speaking on the issue last week, external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup had said that India’s case against Azhar was very strong and there was no logic in not designating him a terrorist while his outfit – JeM – is proscribed by the United Nations since 2001.
Maulana Masood Azhar was the mastermind of several terror-attacks in India, including a deadly assault on an Indian air base in January.